Envelope and stamp moistener



(No Model.)

W. E. RAY. ENVELOPE AND STAMP MOISTENER.

ed Aug. 22. 1893.

Pate 9%.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orriea.

WILLIAM E. RAY, OF WEST COXSACKIE, NEW YORK.

ENVELOPE AND STAMP MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,618, dated August 22, 1893.

Application filed April 13, 1893. Serial No. 470,196. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. RAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest Coxsackie, in the county of Greene and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Envelope and Stamp Moistener, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention relates to a mucilage moistener for use in connection with stamps and envelopes, and has for its object to provide a device of the character set forth having a simple and convenient construction, and whereby stamps and envelope flaps may be readily and quickly moistened for evident purposes.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved moistening device, showing a part of the construction thrown back in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the device as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the reservoir and supporting head therefor disconnected.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a weighted base, constructed of iron, lead, glass, or other material, and having a dove-tailed opening 2 therethrough. On the said base is mounted a body 3, of suitable material, having an extension 4 fitting in the opening 2 to prevent separation of the body from the base, and said body may be otherwise secured by screws or other fastenings, or if found desirable screws or similar fastenings may be alone used for connecting the said parts to each other. The upper surface of the body 3 is formed with a recess 5, that has an inclined bottom and thereby forms a shoulder 6 at one end on which is secured a block 7, having an overhanging shoulder 8. To the opposite end of the body 3 a platform 9 is movably or pivotally connected by a hinge 10, and to the upper side of the said platform is secured a glass plate 11, by means of a sin-. gle screw 12, it being seen that the one end of the said glass plate abuts against a projec-j tion 13 adjacent to the pivotal or hinged point of the platform and thereby requiring the employment of only a single screw to make the securement. The free end of the platform extends under the overhanging shoulder 8, to

prevent the same from being raised, but said same and rests'on the upper surface of the body 3, within the center of the recess of the latter. This construction permits a yielding movement of the platform to the pressure brought to bear thereon and avoids the existence of a hard unyielding resisting surface.

The employment of the glass plate on the platform provides means for readily removing surplus mucilage or other material that may become collected thereon, by washing or otherwise cleansing the same, and also forms a smooth operating surface over which the stamps or envelopes may be freely drawn.

On the block 7 is movably or pivotally mounted a head-block 15 by means of a hinge l6, and to the front edge of the said headblock is fastened a metallic clip 17 that securely and firmly embraces the neck 18, of a reservoir19. Withinthereservoiris mounted a moistening sponge or analogous device, as at 20, that has a portion thereof pushed through the neck of the reservoir and projects from the lower termination of the same sufiiciently to provide an engaging moistening surface. The upper end of the reservoir is open for the insertion or withdrawal of the sponge or other device, or for supplying moisture to the said reservoir, and is provided with a closing cap 21, that prevents too rapid evaporation of the moisture from the reservoir. The said cap is so constructed as to be readily grasped by the hand of the operator to depress the reservoir, or in throwing the reservoir together with its supporting head-block backwardly on the block 7, to thereby entirely clear the top of the platform 9 for any purpose that may be found desirable.

In operation the stamps or envelope flaps are caused to rest upon the glass plate 11 in such manner as to bring the gummed or mucilaginous surfaces thereof in proper position under the reservoir, the latter being elevated sufficiently to permit this positioning of the envelope flaps or stamps. The flaps or the stamps are then drawn across the glass plate while the lower projecting part of the sponge or other device carried by the reservoir is held firmly thereagainst, or with sufficient pressure to produce the desired degree of moistening, This arrangement of parts is very advantageous in connection with large stamps or a series of connected stamps that may be run. .therethrough in strips, thereby producing a clean and rapidly-operating moistening apparatus.

It will be understood that the materials of, which all the parts are constructed maybe changed at will to serve the best purposes, and it is obviously apparent that changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

The reservoir 19 has its lower portion bulged,

as shown, in order to retain the sponge in its proper position and prevent any liability ofthe sponge working up or down when the dcvice is in use. The stopper 21 is constructed; of rubber, and when in place efiects an air-3 tight joint to prevent the evaporationof the% moisture of the sponge, to retain the latter? screw 25 is mounted on the head-block 15.} The adjusting-screw is arranged in a perfo-i ration of the block and engages a threaded opening of a dove-tailed nut 26,-and is adapted to abut against the block 7 to limit the}? downward movement of the reservoir. The;

dove-tailed nut is arranged in a correspond-l ing recess in the lower face of the block 15,. 1

, claimed as new is ally-mounted reservoir coacting with said; plat-form and carrying a vehicle for convey- .ing moisture, the said reservoir being ar-- ranged to be swung back from and .overupon 2. In a moistening apparatus, the combination of ayielding platform, and a pivotally-' mounted .reservoir containing a vehicle for conveying moisture which coacts with the saidplatform, substantially as described.

3.- In a moistening apparatus, the combination of a weighted base, a body mounted thereon, a movable platform located on said body, and a pivotally-mounted reservoir secured above said platform and containing a 4. 'In a moistening apparatus, the combination ofa base, a body .fixed to said base having a recess in the upper side thereof with an inclined bottom to provide a shoulder at one end of the same, a platform having one end hinged to the said body and provided with a glass plate to form an operating surface, a spring interposed between the under side of said platform and the upper side of the said body, a head-block having an overhanging shoulder to limit the upward movement of the said body, and a reservoir pivotally connected to the said block and extending over the upper surface of the said platform and the glass plate carried thereby, said reservoir containing a sponge that projects through the-lower end thereof to providea moistening engaging surface, substantially as described.

5. In a moistening apparatus, the combination of an operating platform provided at its rear end with a flange forming a gage, and a pivotallymounted reservoir carrying a vehicle for conveying moisture and being arranged to be swung back from and over upon the platform, substantially as described.

6. In a moistening apparatus, the combination of a base, a head-block hingedly connected with the .base, an adjusting-screw .mounted on the head-block and adapted to project below the same to limit the downward swing of the head-block, and a reservoir mounted on and carried by the head-block,

substantially as described.

7. In a moistening apparatus,-the combinaried bythe block, substantially as described.

8. In a moistening apparatus, the-combination of the reservoir for con taining'the sponge, having its lower end open, with the platform pivoted at one end and having its free end arranged below-the open end of the reservoir, Having described the nvention, what is and a spring for pressing the platform upr 1 wardly in contact with the sponge projecting 1. In amoistenlng apparatus, the com;bina-; tion of an operating platform, and a pivot-.;

ing the reservoir at oneside sot-hat it may be I swung over out of theway, with the platform the said platform, substantially as described. f

my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. RAY.

Witnesses:

MAURICE H. RAY, KATIE RAY. 

